Summer promises big thrills, big laughs

Rachel Pittenger Staff Writer

Though summer doesn’t officially begin until late June, the much-anticipated summer movie season kicks off with a bang this weekend. Summer 2007 promises a variety of huge blockbusters and exciting sequels, and it seems that the quality (and quantity) of movies will be above and beyond those of recent summers, making it something to look forward to.

Spiderman 3 (May 4) Let’s face it—in the recent past, images of Spiderman have been plastered everywhere, and the press surrounding this third installment of the Spiderman franchise is sure to contribute to huge box office numbers. In this film, the hero battles not one but three villains, and with a longer running time than the previous two films, it seems to promise an epic climax to the series. Even those of us who are not comic book fanatics cannot deny that the Spiderman films have offered a riveting, action-packed cinematic experience, a trend likely to continue with this installment.

Shrek the Third (May 18) Before you can catch your breath from the spectacle of Spiderman 3, another big-budget third installment will arrive. Shrek the Third, unlike Spiderman 3, will not be the final film in its series, will hopefully bring its usual set of laughs. With the return of our favorites (Mike Meyers, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy) will come some new big names—Justin Timberlake, Amy Sedaris, and The Office’s John Krasinski. Obviously, the cast list is impressive, though it is hard to say whether stuffing so many big names into a movie will necessarily make it a significant improvement over the last (personally, I still that say the original Shrek was the strongest, despite the addition of John Cleese, Julie Andrews and Antonio Banderas to the second film). Regardless, Shrek the Third is sure to attract both adult and child audiences—and a lot of money.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (May 25) Yes, another third installment in an epic series. Though critics and audiences alike were not as impressed with the second Pirates film as the first, the film clearly made enough money to provide for a climactic end to the story of Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow and his crew. In this film, Kiera Knightley and Orlando Bloom’s characters must rescue Sparrow one last time, and other important characters come into play, such as Sparrow’s father played by The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards—Depp’s muse for the Sparrow character. There is no doubt that At World’s End will clean up at the box office, regardless of what the critics have to say about it.

Ocean’s Thirteen (June 8) Many viewers are still cringing from the disappointing Ocean’s Twelve, but according to an interview in Entertainment Weekly, director Steven Soderbergh recognized his shortcomings and has worked to create a better film the third time around. The many famous members of the cast (George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Al Pacino, etc.) become entwined once again in another complex criminal plot. The cast’s chemistry is undeniable, and chances are that the franchise will be back up to the high standards set by the fun and clever Ocean’s Eleven.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (July 13) At this rate, it appears that the month of July will be completely monopolized by Harry Potter, with the premiere of the fifth film adaptation of the series, followed by the much-anticipated seventh and final book (arriving July 21). With these two releases, Harry will be raking it in like never before. The film itself features the characters (and actors) exhibiting greater maturity and dealing with darker, more dangerous conflicts than in previous films (not to mention Harry’s first kiss!). With the return of virtually all of the talented British cast (and the addition of Imelda Staunton as Umbridge), the tradition of excellence in the Potter franchise is sure to continue in grand style.

The Simpsons Movie (July 27) After watching the animated sitcom on the small screen for 18 years, fans will finally be able to see The Simpsons on the silver screen. Plot details for the film are hard to dig up, but assume that the event will attract large crowds of loyal Simpsons followers. It is difficult to predict whether the film will attract a wide section of the movie-going population, however, aside from the hard-core fans. This year, the TV-to-film transition has not been fantastic, as in the case of Reno 911! and the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movies. Hopefully, The Simpsons will make this transition with more success.

The Bourne Ultimatum (August 3) Matt Damon is back as Jason Bourne in the third and final film in the Bourne series, directed by Paul Greengrass. Many have hailed these movies as some of the best action movies in the film industry, and Greengrass should stay consistent in both his critical and box office success with this third entry. Damon stars as the amnesiac-assassin, and The Bourne Ultimatum will surely present new conflicts in his battle with identity, in addition to the various other villains that he encounters. Julia Stiles will co-star alongside Damon. The many plot twists and action sequences should, as in the previous films, weave together nicely with Greengrass’ expert style.

Massive summer blockbusters aren’t the only notable films premiering this summer. For those interested in smaller independent films, Knocked Up, about the aftermath of a one-night stand; Evening, based on Susan Minot’s novel; Becoming Jane about the life of Jane Austen; and The Ten, which stars Paul Rudd and Adam Brody (as a puppet) dealing with the Ten Commandments will likely be popular with audiences.